Bombers Weekly News

Published on January 7, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


WEEKEND SPLIT: The Bombers split their weekend games against the visiting Elmira Jackals, losing 6-3 on Friday and winning 3-1 on Saturday night. On Friday, forward Brad Bonello got the Bombers going with a goal just two minutes into the contest. However, the Bombers would not be able to find the back of the net again until the third period when Peter Flache scored his fifth of the season. Matt Beaudoin then netted his first short-handed goal of the season from an assist from Grant Goeckner-Zoeller. Bombers goaltender Rejean Beauchemin saw 28 shots come his way, stopping 23 attempts. It was a different story on Saturday when goalies Jeremy Duchesne for Dayton and Joel Martin for Elmira held both teams scoreless until the 14:00 mark of the second period. While the Jackals held the lead after two frames, the resilient Bombers scored three third period goals to earn the victory. All on the power play and in roughly 10 minutes, Matt Beaudoin, Grant Goeckner-Zoeller and Brad Bonello scored for Dayton. Jeremy Duchesne finished the night stopping 27 of 28 shots.

GOODBYE 2K7: On Monday, December 31, the Bombers visited the Wheeling Nailers to close out 2007 and hopefully set the tone for 2008. If last minute heroics are what the team had in mind then mission accomplished. Tied 1-1 after the first period with a goal from Chanse Fitzpatrick, the Bombers trailed after two and despite ten shots fired in the third period, could not sneak the puck past Nailers goalie Martin Houle until the 11:00 mark when Mike Berry tapped one in with helpers from Brad Bonello and Taylor Christie. The excitement came when Masahito Nishiwaki tapped in a shot from mid-air to score the game winner from Grant Goeckner-Zoeller and Peter Flache. Netminder Jeremy Duchesne denied 33 of 35 shots that came his way.

WHAT A BUZZ KILL: While the Bombers haven't had as much success on the penalty kill as they would like, this past week must have been like the light at the end of the tunnel. The Bombers held Wheeling and Elmira to a meager 2/22 on the power play. Wheeling was 0/9 on Monday and the Jackals were a combined 2/13 on Friday and Saturday.

WELCOME BACK TIFU! : Yannick Tifu has returned from a two-week long stint in the American Hockey League with the Albany River Rats. Tifu, who has been in Albany since December 19, appeared in nine games, recording five points off two goals and three assists. He finished with a +1 rating and no penalty minutes. Tifu ranks third in the ECHL in scoring with 42 points and leads the league with 34 assists. He is also riding a 15-game point streak dating back to November 16, in which time he has picked up 28 points.

BACK IN THE GROOVE: Rookie forward Matt Beaudoin returned last week from his second AHL call-up, this time from the Rochester Americans. Although he could not make it to Wheeling in time for the game on Monday, the Ohio State University alum got right back into the swing of things at the Nutter Center on Friday and Saturday. Beaudoin scored a goal in each of the Bombers games against the Jackals, a short-handed goal on Friday and a power play goal on Saturday. He has extended his point streak to ten games, and has a five game home goal streak as well.

DO NOT PASS GO...: The Bombers faced their first penalty shot of the season on Saturday night against Elmira. Frank Littlejohn was granted a free shot at 7:16 in the third period as the Jackals held onto a slim 1-0 lead. But Bombers goaltender Jeremy Duchesne denied the shot and the Bombers went on to win the contest 3-1.

DUCHESNE IS DIVINE: Netminder Jeremy Duchesne went 2-0-0 last week with a 1.50 GAA and .952 save percentage. The rookie prospect of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers has improved his overall record to 7-3-1-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .902 save percentage, ranking in the ECHL's top 20 based on goals against average.

LET'S GO STREAKING: Many Bombers players are on point streaks including: Yannick Tifu - 15 games, Matt Beaudoin - 10 games, Brad Bonello - 6 games, Masahito Nishiwaki - 5 games.

MILESTONES: Here is a list of Bombers who are the verge of career ECHL milestones:

Taylor Christie: 3 points shy of 50 career points

Peter Flache: 2 assists shy of 50 career assists

Greg Labenski: 4 points shy of 150 career points

Yannick Tifu: 5 assists shy of 100 career assists

Matt Beaudoin: 10 points shy of 50 career points

COUNTDOWN TO 600: Bombers head coach Bill McDonald is 6 wins shy of 600 career wins (535 regular season, 59 post-season).

LOOK OUT BELOW!

I'LL TAKE TWO PLEASE: The Bombers January 8 game against the Reading Royals is another "Two for Tuesday" at the Nutter Center. All Silver Level tickets for adults and youth are two for the price of one at the Nutter Center box office. Inside, Dayton Dogs, popcorn and kids sodas are 2-for-1 at concessions, courtesy of Ovations Catering and the Nutter Center.

IT'S MORE FUN IN A GROUP: Wednesday, January 9 marks the return of "Carload Wednesday" as the Bombers face the Royals again at 7:00 p.m. All carloads get in for $20!

KIDS LOVE THE WEEKEND: On Friday, January 11 as the Bombers take on the Trenton Devils, kids 12 and under receive complementary Silver Level tickets with the purchase of an adult Silver Level ticket at the Nutter Center box office.

HIT THE ROAD: The Bombers conclude their five-game homestand on Friday against Trenton. They then hit the road for five straight games away from the Nutter Center, including a visit to US Bank Arena to take on I-75 rival, the Cincinnati Cyclones on Wednesday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m. The Bombers won't be at home again until January 25 to face the Johnstown Chiefs.

- All Bombers Game Day Broadcasts Can Be Heard Online at www.daytonbombers.com or www.echl.com

Record: 15-9-4-3 37 pts. (4th North Division)

Week Record 2-1-0-0 (Streak Won One)

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Monday, December 31 at Wheeling Nailers (W, 3-2)

Friday, January 4 vs. Elmira Jackals (L, 6-3)

Saturday, January 5 vs. Elmira Jackals (W, 3-1)

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS

Tuesday, January 8 vs. Reading Royals (7:00 p.m.)

** "Two for Tuesday" - 2-for-1 Silver Level tickets at Nutter Center box office and 2-for-1 Dayton Dogs, popcorn and kids soda at concessions

Wednesday, January 9 vs. Reading Royals (7:00 p.m.)

** "Carload Night/Dollar Dog Night" - Pack your cars, vans and SUVs with all your friends and get into the game for just $20...Dollar hotdogs at concessions

Friday, January 11 vs. Trenton Devils (7:00 p.m.)

** Kids 12 and under receive a FREE Silver level ticket with the purchase of an adult Silver level ticket at the Nutter Center box office!

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ECHL Stories from January 7, 2008


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